Teachers Know Best: Teachers’ Views on Professional Development

Education First’s report, Giving Teachers the Feedback and Support They Deserve, describes how five leading districts are working to provide high-quality feedback and support for their teachers in order to improve student outcomes and evaluation systems.

Last year, Kay Staley and Jessica Scherer, literacy coaches in the Kettle Moraine district in Wisconsin, led groups of teachers in a book study on close reading—a complex and important skill emphasized in the Common Core State Standards.

Teaching is complex. Understanding effective teaching requires a careful look at how a variety of skills and practices work together to inspire learning among diverse students.